Agricultural implement.



F. W. MILLER.

PATENTED APR.16,:1907.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT. APPLIQATION FILED APILG. 1904. I

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

9 9i means FREDRICK W. MILLER, OF CALEDONIA, NEW YORK.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 1907.

Application filed April 6, 1904:. Serial No. 201,836-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDRIOK W. MILLER, of Caledonia, in the county ofLivingston and State of New York, have invented. certain new and usefulImprovements in Agricultural Implements; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of thisspecification, and to the referencenumerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to agricultural implements, andparticularly to machines designed for harvesting beans or the like; andit has for its object to provide an implement embodying generally meansfor separating the vines and severing their roots to permit them to bereadily removed from the ground, and gathering and raking devicesadapted to pack the vines, leaving them in cocks or bunches free fromweeds and. stones in readiness to be transported from the field.

To these and other ends my invention consists of certain improvementsand arrange ments of parts as Will more fully appear, the novel featuresbeing more particularly pointed. out in the claims at the end of thisspecification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of an implement constructedin ac cord ance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a sectional view illustrating the methodof attaching the rake-teeth and taken on the line 1 M of Fig. 1. Fig. 5is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 isa similar view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detailsectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the axle-pieces.

Similar reference-numerals in the several figures indicate similarparts.

In illustrating my invention I have shown it applied to an agriculturalimplement, portions of which are constructed in accordance with theUnited States Letters Patent No. 677,250, granted to me June 25, 1901,and embodying generally the main frame or axle 1, on which are mounteddownwardly-extending brackets or other supports 2, having the outervertical faces on which are guided stud-axles or axle-pieces 3,supported in the hubs of the wheels 4. The draft-bar or tongue iscomposed. of the parallel bars 5, joined at their ends and supportingthe drivers seat 6 and also connected by a casting 7, through whichextends the king-bolt 8, said casting being secured by bolts 9 and aclampingplate 10, having a laterally-extending arm 15, provided withnotches and adapted to be employed for purposes to be further described.

At the lower ends of the brackets or supports 2 are the shares or knives16, located on opposite sides of the center of the machine and havingtheir proximate cutting edges converging toward their rear ends, asshown in Fig. 1. Connected to a longitudinally-movable head or casting17, mounted between the bars 5, is a bail, the ends 18 of which extenddownwardly and are attached to the lower ends of the supports 2, formingdrag-bars for the shares or knives. This head is connected by means of alink 19 to a pivoted lever 20, on which is a latch 21, cooperating witha notched segment 22, whereby the head 17 may be moved longitudinally toraise or lower the draft-bar or tongue of the machine. Also connected tothe head is a lever-arm 23, which extends through an aperture 24 in anarm 25, attached to the bail, and having its outer end cooperating withnotches or recesses in the arm 15, wherebythe tongue or draft-bar may beshifted at an angle to] the main frame or axle 1 when the machine isemployed for certain classes of work, such as on a hillside or when therows are crooked.

The adjustment of the shares 16 relatively to the surface of the groundis accomplished by adjustin the brackets or supports 2 vertically on thestud.axles 3, and to this end each of the latter is connected by an arm26 with an operating-lever 27, pivoted to the main frame or axle 1 andhaving the latch 28 cooperating with the notched segment 29, and asthese adjusting devices are arranged at opposite sides of the machinethe sides of the frame may be adjusted independently, so that one orboth of the shares may be moved relatively to the surface of the ground.

Located in front of the shares and at the outer sides of the frame ofthe machine are the dividers 35, each of which is connected by a bolt 36with a supporting-arm 37, journaled to the frame of the machine, asindicated at 38. The dividers are further secured to the arms by meansof bolts 39, the heads of which are adapted to be secured in one of theseries of apertures 40, whereby the dividers may be rotated on the bolt36 to change the angular position of its forward end or point 41relatively to the surface of the ground. Small wheels 42, resting uponthe ground, normally support the dividers, and their downward movementis limited by means of [iexible connections, such as chains 43, attachedat one end to clips 44, which may be adjusted longitudinally on thedraw-bars 18, and the dividers are guided in their upward movementbetween the parallel sides of a U-shaped strap 45, also secured. to thedragbars and inclosing offset portions 46 at the upper sides of thedividers, as shown par ticularly in Figs. 2 and 5. The forward end ofthe divider is rounded, as indicated at 47, and at its inner side it isprovided with a shoulder 48, as shown particularly in Fig. 6, and in therear of this shoulder is arranged a laterally-extending cuttinginstrument in the form of a knife-blade 49, which is adapted to extendbeneath the surface of the ground and when the implement is employed forthe purpose of harvesting beans to sever the straggling roots of thevines. The inner end of the cutting instrument is shaped to engage theside of the divider, and it is held in contact therewith by a bolt andnut, as indicated by 50, and engaging the rear edge of the instrument isa lug or projection 51, adapted to hold it in proper operative position.The point 41 is formed upon a detachable side plate 56, which extendsoutwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, to cover thesupporting-wheel 42 and is removably connected by means of a bolt 57, asshown in Fig. 6. Extending rearwardly from the dividers are the springgathering-rods 58, which project a above the shares 16.

n. The raking or bunching mechanism embodies a rake-frame 59, whichextends in rear of the shares and gathering-rods and supports the springrake-teeth 60, said frame embodying the side portions 61, which arepivoted at 62 to arms 63, extending rearwardly from the stud-axles oraxle-pieces 3 and secured thereto by bolts 64, which also extend throughand form means for securing the stirrups or supports 65 for the driversfeet. At one side of the machine the rake-frame has an arm extendingforwardly beneath one of the axles and carrying at its end a roller 71,with which cooperates a cam attached to one of the wheels 4. This cam(illustrated particularlyin Fig. 3) is provided with an aperture throughwhich the axle 3 of the wheel extends, and it has a portion 72 arrangedconcentric therewith, which, engaging the roller 71, normally holds therake-frame in the operative position, as shown in Fig. 2, and anoperating-point 73 for raising the rake-frame. The cam is adapted to bedetachably connected to the wheel, and at its opposite sides it isprovided with lugs or extensions 74,

through which pass bolts 75, engaging the clamping-plates 76, extendingacross the outer surfaces of adjacent spokes, as shown in they aresecured to a casting 67, attached to the frame or axle 1 by the bolt 8.The arms slope downwardly, and their outer free ends 68 diverge slightlyand are in proximity to the rake-frame and preferably extend beneath itto operate as strippers during the upward movement of the rake-teeth.

The spring rake-teeth 60 extend vertically, and at their upper ends theyare provided with loops 80, which terminate in laterallyextendingfingers or projections 81. These rake-teeth are removably secured to therake-frame by means of a clamping-bar 82, provided upon its inner sidewith longitudinally-extending recesses 83 and withtransversely-extending recesses 84, the former being adapted to receivethe fingers or projections 81 of the rake-teeth and the latter theportions of the loops adjacent said projections when the bar is securedto the rake-frame by means of securing devices or bolts 85.

In operating the machine for harvesting beans or similar products thedividers extend at the outer sides of adjacent rows of vines andseparate them from those at either side, and as the implement isadvanced the inclosed rows of vines are turned inwardly, their rootsbeing severed by the cutting instruments or knives 49 and the shares 16,the latter converging toward their rear ends and the converginggathering-rods causing the vines of the separate rows to be gatheredtogether beneath the center of the machine.

The rake-teeth 60, engaging the vines during the time the machine istraveling a distance of one-half the circumference of the wheels 4, willcause them to be bunched, and as the point 73 of the cam engages theroller 71 the rake-frame will be moved upwardly, raising the raketeethto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As the machine isadvancing during the upward movement of the rake-frame, the teeth 60will be dragged over the accumulated bunch of vines and cause the latterto be rolled a short distance along the surface of the ground, thusseparating them from stones and other impediments which may haveaccumulated.

The improved form of dividers and the raking devices are simple inconstruction and are capable of being easily applied tomachinesheretofore constructed, and by employing the cutting instrumentson the dividers in conjunction with the converging shares the stragglingroots of the vines may be severed and the vines harvested with lessdifficulty and more thoroughly than heretofore. The raking deviceslocated in rear of the shares and dividers collect the vines in bunchesor cocks, thus efficiently accomplishing a feature of the work which ithas heretofore been necessary to do either by handlabor or by the use ofa separate apparatus.

I claim as my invention 1. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a main frame, and supporting- Wheels thereon, a rake-framecomprising side portions journaled on the main frame in rear of thecenters of the wheels and teeth on said rahe-frame, .of an arm on one ofsaid side por tions of the rake-frame and a device on one of the wheelscooperating therewith to raise the frame.

2. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a main frame andsupportingwheels thereon, of a rake-frame extending rearwardly from themain frame and journaled reon, rake-teeth on said frame, packing-armsattached to the main frame above the rake-frame and extending rearwardlyand downwardly beneath the latter and means for automatically raising herake-frame.

3. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a main frame andsupporting wheels thereon, of a rake-frame extending rearwardly from themain frame and journaled thereon, rake-teeth on said frame, springpacking-arms attached to the main frame above the rake-frame andextending rearwardly and downwardly into proximity with said frame and adevice on one of the wheels cooperating with the rake-frame to operateit.

t. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a main frame andsupportingwheels thereon, of a ral e-frame extending: rearwardly on themain frame and journaled thereon, rale-teeth on spring packing-armsattached to the main frame above the rake-frame having the endsextending downwardly beneath the rakeframe and means for operating therakeframe.

5. The combination with a main frame, axles thereon and wheels journaledon the latter, of a pivoted rake-frame having teeth, a cam adapted tocooperate with the frame and fitting over one of the axles at one sideof the wheel, laterally-projecting ears on the cam, clamping-platesbearing against the other side of the wheel and bolts connecting saidplates and the ears on the cam.

6. The combination with a main frame having downwardly-extending sidebrackets and supporting-w]reels journaled thereon and a rake-frame inrear of the main frame having forwardly-extending arms, of bearingscarried on the main frame andv pivotally support: ing the ends of saidarms, an operating-arm said rake-frame,

on the rake-frame and a cam carried on one of the wheels andcooperating; with the arm.

7. The combination with a main frame having side portions, axle-piecesadjustably mounted on the latter and supporting-wheels journaled on theaxle-pieces, of a rake-frame having side arms, journals on theaxle-pieces supporting said arms, teeth on said frame and a cam carriedon one of the wheels and cooperating with the rake-frame.

8. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a main frame,wheels supportin g; it, gathering-fingers arranged at opposite sides ofthe center of the frame andv converging at their rear ends, of a pivotedrake-frame having teeth arranged in rear of the gathering-fingers,packing-arms arrange l. above the latter and extending; into proximitywith the rake-teeth and means for raising the rakeframe.

9. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a main frame,wheels supporting it, yielding gathering-fingers arranged at oppositesides of the center of the frame and converging at their rear ends, of apivoted rake-frame having yielding teeth thereon located in rear of thegathering-lingers, spring packing-arms located above the rake-frame andextending rearwardly and downwardly into proximity with the rake-frameand. an operating device for raising the latter actuated by one of thewheels.

1.0. In an agricultural implement, the com bination with a rake-frame, aclamping-bar and means for connecting; it to the frame, of springrake-teeth, loops at their upper ends surrounding the frame and bar and.lateral extensions on said teeth. secured between the bar and frame.

11. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a rake-frame, arecessed clamping-bar and means for detachably connecting; it to theframe, of spring rake-teeth, loops at their ends surrounding the frameand bar on the teeth and lateral extensions, lying; in the recess in thebar and secured between the latter and the frame.

12. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a rake-frame, aclamping-bar havii'ig longitudinally and transversely extending recessesand means for attaching it to the rake-frame of spring rake-teethprovided withloops at their upper ends extending over the bar and lyingin the transverse recesses and. provided with the laterally-e20-FREDRICK W. MILLER.

Witnesses:

G. WILLARD RICH, RUssELL B. GRIFFITH.

IIC

